Renal function impacts outcomes after intestinal transplantation.

Background: Although renal dysfunction (RD) has been commonly associated with poor outcome after other solid organ transplants, it has not been studied in detail after intestinal transplantation (ITx). Here we provide a detailed analysis of renal function after ITx, and identify predictors of post-ITx RD.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing ITx from 1991 to 2006 was performed.

Determination of risk factors for deep venous thrombosis in hospitalized children.

Purpose: Our objective was to determine the time trend and risk factors for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities among pediatric inpatients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used the data from the Health Care Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database for the years of 1997, 2000, and 2003 to estimate the DVT prevalence and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios. Patients between the ages of 1 and 17 years and who were hospitalized for at least 4 days were included.

Restorative yoga for women with ovarian or breast cancer: findings from a pilot study.

Yoga has demonstrated benefit in healthy individuals and those with various health conditions. There are, however, few systematic studies to support the development of yoga interventions for cancer patients. Restorative yoga (RY) is a gentle type of yoga that has been described as "active relaxation.

Congenital tracheobiliary fistula diagnosed with contrast-enhanced CT and 3-D reformation.

Congenital tracheobiliary fistula (CTBF) is a rare malformation. So far 24 cases have been reported in the English language literature. The imaging techniques used in diagnosis have been bronchography, fistulography, cholangiography, hepatobiliary nuclear imaging and MRI.

Does race influence outcomes after primary liver transplantation? A 23-year experience with 2,700 patients.

Background: Data about the influence of race on survival after liver transplantation (LT) are limited and conflicting. This study was undertaken to evaluate longterm outcomes for LT in African-American (AA) recipients compared with recipients of other races and to determine factors responsible for any observed differences.

Study Design: This was a retrospective case series.

Does congenital diaphragmatic hernia associated with bronchopulmonary sequestration portend a better prognosis?

Introduction: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) continues to be a devastating disease in the newborn population, with well-documented morbidity and mortality. Bronchopulmonary sequestration is a separate congenital defect that has been associated with CDH. While the association of sequestration with CDH has been reported to be as high as 30-40%, the prognosis associated with the two simultaneous defects is unknown.

Genetic analysis of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation reveals a novel pulmonary gene: fatty acid binding protein-7 (brain type).

The pathogenesis of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) is unknown and its natural history is unpredictable. Fatty acid binding protein-7 (FABP-7) has been previously described in brain and breast development, but never before in the lung. We investigate gene expression in CCAM, and hypothesize that CCAM results from an aberration in the signaling pathway during lung development.

Liver and intestine transplantation in the United States, 1997-2006.

Liver transplantation in 2006 generally resembled previous years, with fewer candidates waiting for deceased donor liver transplants (DDLT), continuing a trend initiated with the implementation of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD). Candidate age distribution continued to skew toward older ages with fewer children listed in 2006 than in any prior year. Total transplants increased due to more DDLT with slightly fewer living donor liver transplants (LDLT).

Congenital visceral myopathy with a predominantly hypertrophic pattern treated by multivisceral transplantation.

Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction due to visceral myopathy may cause intestinal failure. The anatomical pathology of visceral myopathy is dominated by an atrophic muscularis propria. We present a case that is overwhelmingly dominated by a hypertrophic muscularis propria.

Association between the Igk and Igh immunoglobulin loci mediated by the 3' Igk enhancer induces 'decontraction' of the Igh locus in pre-B cells.

Variable-(diversity)-joining (V(D)J) recombination at loci encoding the immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh) and immunoglobulin light chain (Igk) takes place sequentially during successive stages in B cell development. Using three-dimensional DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, here we identify a lineage-specific and stage-specific interchromosomal association between these two loci that marks the transition between Igh and Igk recombination. Colocalization occurred between pericentromerically located alleles in pre-B cells and was mediated by the 3' Igk enhancer.

A minimally hypomorphic mutation in Btk resulting in reduced B cell numbers but no clinical disease.

Reduced B cell numbers and a mutation in Btk are considered sufficient to make the diagnosis of X-linked agammaglobulinaemia. In the process of conducting family studies, we identified a 58-year-old healthy man with an amino acid substitution, Y418H, in the adenosine-5'-triphosphate binding site of Btk. Immunofluorescence studies showed that this man had 0.

Thoracoscopic versus open resection for congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations of the lung.

Purpose: This study evaluated the potential advantages of thoracoscopy compared to thoracotomy for resection of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAM).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive cases of CCAM resection at University of California San Francisco Children's Hospital from January 1996 to December 2006.

Results: Thirty-six cases of postnatal CCAM resections were done over the past 10 years; 12 patients had thoracoscopic resections, whereas 24 patients had open resections.

Genotoxic potential of glyphosate formulations: mode-of-action investigations.

A broad array of in vitro and in vivo assays has consistently demonstrated that glyphosate and glyphosate-containing herbicide formulations (GCHF) are not genotoxic. Occasionally, however, related and contradictory data are reported, including findings of mouse liver and kidney DNA adducts and damage following intraperitoneal (ip) injection. Mode-of-action investigations were therefore undertaken to determine the significance of these contradictory data while concurrently comparing results from ip and oral exposures.

A phase II dose finding study of darbepoetin alpha and filgrastim for the management of anaemia and neutropenia in chronic hepatitis C treatment.

Dose reductions of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin may be avoided by using growth factors. This phase II clinical trial assesses the dose, efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alpha and filgrastim for treatment of anaemia and neutropenia associated with combination therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV). Chronic hepatitis C patients (n = 101) received pegylated interferon alpha-2b (1.

Renal event outcomes in intestinal transplantation: results from a single-center experience.

Background: Poor patient outcomes have been closely linked with perioperative renal function after most solid organ transplants, except intestinal transplantation (ITx). This study examined the effect of peri-ITx renal function on outcome.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing ITx since 1991 was completed and included 43 patients and 49 transplants.

(239, 240, 241)Pu fingerprinting of plutonium in western US soils using ICPMS: solution and laser ablation measurements.

Sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICPMS) has been used with analysis of solution samples and laser ablation (LA) of electrodeposited alpha sources to characterize plutonium activities and atom ratios prevalent in the western USA. A large set of surface soils and attic dusts were previously collected from many locations in the states of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado; specific samples were analyzed herein to characterize the relative contributions of stratospheric fallout vs. Nevada Test Site (NTS) plutonium.

Liver transplantation for HELLP syndrome.

Of the approximately one in 1000 pregnant women who develop the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP), 2 to 3 per cent develop hepatic complications, including liver failure for which liver transplantation (LT) may be required. Between February 1, 1984, and December 31, 2006, eight women without a history of liver disease underwent LT for complications of HELLP syndrome. All received cadaveric grafts with a mean interval from delivery to LT of 7 days.

A prospective, randomized, multicenter trial of amnioreduction vs selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation for the treatment of severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the effect of selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (SFLP) vs serial amnioreduction (AR) on perinatal mortality in severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

Study Design: This was a 5 year multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome variable was 30 day postnatal survival of donors and recipients.

Employment and quality of life in liver transplant recipients.

The purposes of liver transplantation (LT) include the extension of survival, improvement in quality of life, and the return of the recipient as a contributing member of society. Employment is one measure of the ability to return to society. The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting employment/subemployment after LT.

Liver transplantation criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma should be expanded: a 22-year experience with 467 patients at UCLA.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the impact of current staging criteria on long term survival.

Summary Background Data: HCC is becoming an increasingly common indication for OLT. Medicare approves OLT only for HCCs meeting the Milan criteria, thus limiting OLT for an expanding pool of potential liver recipients.

Neuro-gov: neuroscience as catalyst.

Neuroscience promises to act as a catalyst, in the longer run, in seeking re-unification of the fragmented social sciences (e.g., political science and economics) and social action subjects (e.

Outcome of liver transplantation in septuagenarians: a single-center experience.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that selected septuagenarians may do as well after transplantation as those of a younger group of older recipients. This work compares post-liver transplant survival in septuagenarians with that of patients aged 50 to 59 years.

Design: Review of a prospectively maintained database.

Characteristics of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations associated with nonimmune hydrops and outcome.

Background/purpose: In fetuses with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations of the lung (CCAMs), hydrops fetalis and large masses are associated with poor outcomes. This study attempts to (1) determine sonographic features (in addition to large size) that correlate with hydrops and (2) characterize the features that correlate with outcome among hydropic fetuses.

Method: Charts and sonograms of fetuses with large, unilateral CCAMs were retrospectively reviewed.